Finally Some FO Photos

Finally! Something about blogging without pictures...*ick* Photos just make it so much more interesting!

I have been crafting away. Seems like I have forgotton to show off some items.

The Eco Bags....

Elisa's Nest Tote ~ the pattern info on Ravelry

My strap differs from the original pattern. I used a spoolie/corker, made 2 ropes and twisted them around one another.


Saturday Market Bag ~ Pattern info here on Ravelry

All of these bags were made with Peaches N Cream cotton leftover in my stash!

Lion Brand Market Bag # 60551 ~ Pattern info here on Ravelry

Last, but certainly not least as far as the bags go...is the Everlasting Bag Stopper.

The Everlasting Bag Stopper ~ Pattern info here on Ravelry

The body of the bag is knit. I changed the straps from the original pattern, which called for ribbon. I used what I have found to be wicked strong and sturdy... just your basic double crochet.

As far as use and practicality, we have used the Lion Brand Market Bag the most. Used for toting around snacks, sunscreen and first aid at softball tournaments. As well as toting junk to and from the pool. Sunscreen, toys, extra clothes, towels and of course more snacks!

Ultimately, this will cut down on how many of those weak and useless plasticky grocery bags this family uses. Might not be a huge ECO GREEN step, but but a step none the less in the right direction.

Nephews Ghan Completed in 3 Days

Every year my 3 nephews get a birthday ghan from me; their "Auntie". These are the sons of my best friend since age 12. Both she and I have created our own families, believing that friends make the best families; since our bio families are teeny tiny.

This Nephew's Bday is in August... here is this year's Bday Ghan! (done early I might add) Typically, they are received late due to the time in creating the ghan.



It is the Sand & Sea Afghan from Quick-Stitch Crochet book. Instead of using taupe yarn for the sand, I used Claret. Many of the ghans I make for them are Americana in color. This was a better color choice for the intent.

I enjoyed this pattern so much that I plan to make other color combos for other family members. It was an easy pattern to memorize. Which for me was GREAT! I am always taking yarn and hook/needles out and about while at baseball parks and softball tournaments. In fact, I completed this baby in THREE days! *GRIN*

progress pics

OK, I got off my lazy ass.... presenting clues 1 and 2 of Mystic Light KAL in Dream in Color Smooshy- Lipstick Lava



This is the cafe curtain hung up...of course, being the brainiac that I am....took it into the light *duh*

I will take another one tonight, perhaps it will be better.

What's a Goil to do?

What's a goil to do while waiting for new yarn to arrive for a KAL? Stash bust of course!

Realizing that I was sick and tired of mini blinds in our road facing bathroom, I made a cafe curtain. Denim Ombre kitchen cotton, and a vintage crochet pattern that I modified. I ALMOST have it perfect. I believe I will need to make another panel in order to have the folding drape to obscure the bathroom window. The photo is that of the panel drying and blocking.




Over Easter, also bored and bummed that I could not work on my Mystic Light KAL, I busted out some Lion Brand Homespun from the stash and made this Generic Granny! Pretty wonderful what a K hook and a week can do!



And last but CERTAINLY not least....my new yarn for the Mystic Light KAL!!! I had chose 2 alternate yarns and colors that I thought might work. As much as I loved my STR Rhode Island Red, the beautiful colors detracted from the lace pattern. Which quite frankly, what's the use in doing lace if you can't see it?!

The Loopy Ewe shipped SO fast! My Lipstick Lava colored Smooshy yarn by Dream in Color arrived last week. Which gave me plenty of time to get re-started on the KAL. I am happy to say that I was able to get clues 1 and 2 done before today! Which is when clue 3 is to be released. *whew* The second yarn, which was ordered from another company... has yet to even be shipped. Apparently, it is on backorder.

I will get a pic of my progress up as soon as I get off my lazy ass to take one. :o)

I am also working on my Blue Moon Fiber Arts Notorious Sock Knitters Club March edition. *loving it*

The children are on Spring Break here. Teen Queen and Boy Wonder are enjoying their time off from a heavily planned schedule. Boy Wonder does have a few baseball practices tossed in there, but for the most part it's all free time baby! Which for them, means ~~~VIDEO GAME TIME!~~~

Since January it's been a bit rough around here, ya know, with Rambo being told that his civilian job no longer exists. Talk about a wicked pissa!

It's never fun to be told you no longer have a job; but that damn job was nothing but a nightmare for us the entire time, good riddance! Thankfully, we still have the military. *never thought I would be thankful for that*

The time off from an endless work week and incessant traveling for no good cause for that damn civilian job has been good for us. Rambo has been able to spend some quality and quantity time with the family, which has been long overdue!

Better to blog with no pictures or not blog at all?

Me??? I choose to not blog at all. After all, what fun is it without photos?

I have been steadily chugging along on my SotS2. Almost done with hint 3, I am SO behind.

I have completed Nephew #3's birthday ghan! Pattern here



Along with a dandy lil handmade tag! I am sure the next few tags will come out better, but not too shabby for my very first attempt! I learned this nifty how to from Futuregirl's tutorial. She totally kicks ass!




I have found and received the most perfect yarn for the Mystic Light KAL beginning later this month. It is from BMFA, Socks that Rock in Rhode Island Red.



That's about it! No progress pics of the Y4S Crystalline socks, or SotS2. Heck, I have yet to even cast on for MS7 with Goddess Knits! *bad Knitter*

Here is the sky this morning around 7am! Yesterday was 65 degrees, today it was 71 and the wind kicked up to bring clouds and rain for this evening. I thought the sky was so pretty, that I just had to snap a pic before taking my daughter to school.

Toppers for Rambos Cast

During the Holly-days after Rambo's foot surgery, we decided that a buffer would be required ... what with the wire coming out the top of his toe and all! ~~EWE ICK ~~

Somehow; the thought of having that wire getting snagged in the bedcovers or whacking it into a baseboard while shuffling around on crutches made my skin crawl! *and it's not even MY foot*

His cast left 4 toes peeping out, plenty of whacking possibilities! I, being the crafty and practical Cappy that I am ... takes off for the kitchen, grabs a plastic cup from our fave sammich shop (jersey mike's), I cut the bottom off, attach the top part of the cup to the end of his cast with medical tape. Voile! A sturdy buffer! Sure it may not be pretty, but it damn sure is practical!

Realizing that the cup would get lots of unwanted attention, (especially from my father in law) I figured a festive topper would grab a better type of attention!

Presenting Rambo's Holly-day Gnome (crochet)

This is clearly an adaptation of the lionsbrand gnome pattern that I made for my nephew's. I thought if I just made the body longer to fit he cast it would be ok. WRONG! The original gnome topper ended up looking like Beetlejuice after he swipes the witch doctors line number...huge body... teeny tiny little noggin. I ripped off the head and just winged it til it looked to be proper size for the bigger torso.

Being the HUGE Minnesota Vikings Fan that he is; I decided to design a Viking for him. I was not thrilled with the drawstring used to keep gnomie on, I figured a ribbed design would be easier and stay on better. I knit 2x2 rib about 7 inches tall, and enough to stretch around the cast. No massive math calculations for this gal! I just fly by the seat o' my drawers!

Once the body was tall enough, I switched to crochet after casting off, and winged a viking noggin that might look as if he has a helmet on, made a couple of horns. then I added blonde braids and mustache! Get a load of this guy!!! (I am so proud) :o)

close up

The non blogging wonder re-surfaces

Almost a month since I last checked in. Something about not having a working camera to post my works in progress takes me away. What's the use in posting when I have nothing to show? The digital camera died at the beginning of the month. Of course it bailed out during a recognition ceremony type thing where Rambo husband and some other high muckety mucks were speaking. Thankfully I had a disposable on hand. the digital had been giving me trouble since October; so I had a disposable just in case. Once a girl scout always prepared I guess.

I have been knitting and crocheting on gifts and on my KAL shawls. SotS is about done, took a long break after the bead disaster in the Suv...could not even think of beads after that one! The Mystic Waters is also almost complete, and MS6 (winter) is on track. I have vowed not to be a turtle on this one and actually stay up with the clues as they come out. A lofty goal when one has so much going on! Plus many Kals beginning in Jan 2008!!!

I did in fact buy myself a gifty new camera! Yaaay!!! A canon powershot with zoom. I am certain it will take better pics than my old 3 pixel one did! In fact here are some Gnomes I sent off to my Nephews in MA.

Aren't they cute???



close up fo single Gnomie gnome



Rambo husband had foot surgery. Home on crutches. In law family at our home, for the Holidays. I love being home for the holidays...finally. Past 2 years have been spent not at our own home. I have always had this "Norman Rockwell-esque" desire to have the Holidays in our home every year.

Saturday I was to run errands, pick up headboard for my son on the other side of town at the warehouse, mail packages, drop off donatables, grocery/costco run. My plans were severely changed when I headed out to learn I had a flat tire! Then I was off to Big O for 2 new tires. One thing after another, at the warehouse…the headboard will not fit in the trailblazer…of course it won’t why would it. 2 goobers tie the box to the top of my suv. I cannot take the highway home as I have this tied to my car and it is windy out…find alternate backroads route home...all the while hoping the box does not fall off and break or better yet injure someone…becoming mistaken for Santa was becoming a real issue for me as the clouds came rolling in and the winds picked up…..

“is that santa….no it’s just Regina in her black trailblazer”

Issues and more issues ensued throughout the day…I will not even go into the details…it ended with a can of exploding coke in my fridge that went all over me, my kitchen, floor and ceiling…quite the power from 1 lil can of pop! I knew I should have crawled back into bed after the flat tire was spotted!!!

Sunday, the cat brought a wee little mousey pal in from the garage. No easy task for a house cat with no front claws...impressive but I cannot have a half live mouse in my house!!!

I can hardly wait to see what the universe has in store for me today!!!

Happy Chris-ma-kah to everyone!

Wholly Crap! New Post and many FOs (photo heavy)

Yep, bout time for a new post eh? As you can see I have been busy...I have FOs to show!!!

I have been working on SotS and Mystic Waters KALS...no real progress to show as they are both in progress. I was halted with SotS for a little bit after the bead fiasco! I do alot of my yarn tangling while I am in the car bringing or picking the kids up from various activities throughout the week. I still am not certain what happened or caused this to occur, but... just visualize tiny seed beads whooshing out of the canister and into the air vents of your vehicle!!! *sigh* yes, it happened and it would of course happen to ME! :o)

You see them in there....yes, an entire canister. I spent the rest of carpool fishing them out one by one with my wee little crochet hook. After that, it was a while before I could bring myself to touch beads again. *shudders*

Another Nephew Blankie has been completed and shipped! Almost on time..unlike the previous ones. *better late than never I say* Handmade is best! Crochet using Caron Simply Soft yarn and pattern used is from The Crochet Dude *monet afghan*

A Knit Earflap Hat for Jack! Made with Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick in Charcoal. Matching Mittens are on the needles now. Pattern from the Fall 2007 Knit Simple magazine. Pattern is Tasseled Earflap Hat. No tassel for Jack though! :o)

Fingerless Mitts for Meg! Pattern is from Fluffy Knitter Deb Kureyon Wristers. Made with Noro Iro in colorway 40 (blue green) She LOVES them and wears them every chance she gets!

The Stocking KAL at Cauldron of Crafts is complete! It has been finished for a while, just waiting for me to block and get a photo! Never having made a stocking before... I quite enjoyed this project and do plan to make more.

Fun Slippers for Marc~ Still have to waterproof/slip-proof the bottoms before gift giving for the Holly Days! Crocheted from Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick. Pattern is fuzzy bunny slippers from the Stitch n Bitch crochet book...minus the bunny ears! :o) Brown for the uppers, dark green inside sole, and charoal for bottom sole. Scrap yarn was used for a free hand stitched spiral on the upper. Difficult to see. The process I will be using to waterproof/slip-proof the bottoms can be seen here ~~~> Making Slippers Non Skid

I think that's about it for now...well there are a few other things laying around waiting for their photo shoot. As well as much more yarnie fun on the hooks and needles!

It has been nice with the kids being done with sports for a while...well at least til February! *eep* Taking advantage of this my house is getting some much over due attention and cleaning!

Wrangled by the Rings....

Seems I have been ringed into the KAL rings! First the SotS and now the Hemlock. *see the purty buttons?* Ah well, can never have too much on the sticks...can you? Nah NEVAH!

My SotS will begin Oct 5th. I am going with the Lost Lake yarn and the grey diamonds beads. I can hardly wait for this!

My Hemlock is not actually a lace project as it is being done in Carons Simply Soft, color "truffle". This is actually a doily pattern but Brooklyn Tweed modified and did in heavier yarn for a lapghan..FABBY IDEA BTW! Which of course, has me looking at doily patterns in a whole new light these days!

While I was waiting for the SotS to begin and before I stumbled upon the Hemlock, I did manage to get a few WIPs completed.

The Nephew Afghan....
Lion Brand Homespun colors Pine (discontinued) and country blue
Pattern from Sept/Oct 2007 Crochet Today "lazy day throw"

No, the granny squares are not wonky... no,it's not your eyes tiring from your scanning the internet for hours...they are trapezoids!

Brightest evah crochet sock! This yarn....sheeesh...OBNOXIOUS much?.

Another sock! Very nice! Not as obnoxious as the previous!

So crafty and capable...even when it comes to powerwashing and stripping a deck too??? Oh so useful to have around, aren't I?




I have an understanding with the bugg creatures...they stay outside and no issues...they come inside my house and it's war!

Look what a pretty web! AND...since it is outside, it can stay!

Scarf Progress...yes so soon!

Daughter had Competitive Softball tournament this weekend... I know, SHOCKING! So I thought I could get a start on the first scarf.

Red Heart super saver yarn in Burgundy
Lily Chin pattern
J hook

Everyone always asks what I am making at any given time. The know I am a busy body when it comes to yarn projects. the day before this I was working on trapezoids for a nephew afghan! (from the new Crochet! magazine) They knew this was not part of that. So I filled them in on the Red Scarf Project.

summer is here and I am wicked busy

First off... Leigh Ann had a blog contest...see here http://leighsknittinandgardeningescapades.blogspot.com/2007/06/june-contest-guess-how-many-projects.html which by the way, I won! I never win ANYTHING, I am stoked.


I've been living at the ball parks in and around and not so around town with the kids. Jack has 2 games a week, Meghan has 2 practices a week along with the usual weekend tournament. Soon she will be adding 1 week night game to the schedule as well. *whew*


This past weekend there was no tournament...one of our few weekends off. We did nothing spectacular, just hung out around the house and chilled out.


The weekend before....we were in Dale, Indiana for a tournament. We stayed in lovely Santa Claus, IN. Of course there were no rooms available....so being the daring team we are, we rented RV's. No...I am *not* kidding; oh how I wish I were. I learned that given the choice, I will always choose the hotel room over an RV. Game wise, the girls won 2 and lost 2 which sent us home early Sunday. This weekend we are off to another tournament!


Craftiness I have been up to... seems like I have a gazillion things going at once and not making any progress on any of them. I hate when that happens.


Enter the photo zone....


This is for the Larger Than Life Tote from Interweave Crochet Spring 2007 also a current CAL over at Fiber Freaks.

Next up is a crochet wide brim hat. Black and White cotton ease, ideally to wear at the ballparks. Pattern from Knit Simple magazine spring/summer 2007.
This is going to be a tunic tank from the same magazine for my daughter. Made from one of those big ole honkin skeins of peaches n cream cotton. OK, I saw it and could not pass it up! :o)





Let's see, what else do I have on my plate....ahhh yes...this lovely dress for the daughter! Again, pattern from the same magazine mentioned above.

Which will eventually look like this....
An afghan for my one of my nephews...




This was started a while ago. Of course this one is for me...which probably explains why it is least worked on. :o) Eventually it will be a scoop neck tank top. From the same Knit Simple magazine mentioned about eleventeen times in this entry.


This is the same yarn I was attempting to crochet my summery top in, way back in April. Amazing how different it looks worked up crochet vs. knit!


Last but not least a gratuitous photo of Moe the cat. Wondering what the heck I am doing throwing all this fibery goodness on the floor and not allowing him to climb all over it! ;o) The nerve!

CAL at Fiber Freaks.....summery tops *sigh*

Ok, so I was all thrilled about this CAL at Fiber Freaks...summery tops. It sounded like a great thing, I even had the perfect yarn...or so I thought. I figured I would use my new yarn and make SWEET. Ummm yah...not so much. As a Goddess shaped woman...I am an hourglass with more sand than I used to have back in the day! Last night I determined that I will more than likely not have enough to get past my boobage. *sigh* HUGE BUMMER.

Especially since it took me about a day and a haf to determine which summery top I would make that would be good for my shape as well as the gauge for my super sweet awesome yarn....and now it will go into the frog pond. I guess the yarn is meant to be something crochet lacey or possibly knit. SOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooo...I have now decided that I will go with a kit I had in my crafty room/yarnitorium* a term long admired and swiped from my friend Alissa aka The Knitting Fairy. I am hoping that this will work for me. Otherwise I will just have to make another tank for my daughter. I myself, am not so much of a tank top kind of gal! Wish me luck!

Knit, purl, sc and dc

Oooh have I been busy!

Snuggle Bunny and Blankie

Snuggle bunny made using 1 strand LB homespun and 1 strand simply soft navy, knit using LB pattern. The blankie is simple crochet with LB and a lattice edge, no pattern. I enjoyed the bunny, as I am pretty new to knitting. This pattern forced me to learn a new skill...double knitting. Ahhhh cables cannot be too far behind!

I have also been working on a knit tank using cottn tots for my daughter. We shall see how it turns out. This is my first attempt at a knit wearable that is not a shawl. Keep your fingers crossed! If all turns out as planned, a short sleeved pullover for myself cannot be far behind! I saw quite a few patterns I am LOVING in Stefanie Japel's (aka Glampyre) book FITTED KNITS.

I have the pleasure of catching the upper res infection that my son brought home and is sharing with me. I haven't been sick in years, which is amazing in itself! Of course gawds know I have enough going on without being sick on top of it. LOL

The hubby surprised us this weekend! Yaaay! There I was wandering in BestBuy looking for a usb wireless thingy for the kids desktop...and I spy the hubby. I ran up to him and whacked him in the chest exclaiming " what are you doing here?" anyone who used to watch Seinfeld and Elaine as she whacks someone while saying 'get out'...will know how we looked in the middle of the store! :o) He goes back to Ga tomorrow. He had to come home for some traditional New England Boiled Dinner aka corned beef and cabbage. *yum* We have it every year. Last year he missed it while he was deployed.